VMware developing dual operating system smartphones
Speaking to ComputerWorld, VMwares head of mobile phone virtualisation Srinivas Krishnamurti has spoken about the company's intentions to provide dual operating system smartphones.
VMware's vision for virtualisation of mobiles (being the process of running a software implementation of hardware, not unlike an emulation) goes beyond the dual boot concept, and aims to have two operating systems running simultaneously on a single device.
"We dont think dual booting will be good enough - well allow you to run both profiles at the same time and be able to switch between them by clicking a button," Krishnamurti said. "Youll be able to get and make calls in either profile - work or home as they will both be live at any given point in time."
The company has already demonstrated Android and Windows Mobile running side-by-side on a distinctly underpowered smartphone with just 128MB of RAM, and a side project is also underway to create a user interface that makes the concept more manageable.
Microsoft has been shooting the idea down, however, saying there's no market demand for smartphone virtualisation.
"I have seen all the scenarios [for smartphone virtulasition]," said Microsofts head of virtualisation Zane Adam, "but customers arent asking us; were not seeing the demand."